Material batcher



April 16, 1929. P. c GRAHAM MATERIAL BATCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 25, 1926 W TT RNEY April 16, 1929. P. c. GRAHAM MATERIAL BATCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1926 M E T N K NH F. H 0 YM W 0 5 MG A O l E P001. C

Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,709,211 PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL C. GRAHAM, 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGN 0F (ENE-HALF TO JAMES ALVA BUTLER, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

MATERIAL BATCHER.

Application filed November 23, 1826. Serial No. 150,272.

My invention relates to a device in which a definite amount of material may be measured, and my invention is particularly applicable to the measuring of various grades of crushed rock or the like. It is well known that the proper forming of concrete is largely dependent upon the proper mixing of the dry aggregate of which the rock is a large portion. In order that the concrete may be uniform throughout the entire structure each batcher which is made must be identical with the preceding one. In my batcher it is possible to accurately measure the various amounts of different sized rock which goes into the making of the concrete.

An object of my invention is to provide a material batcher which will properly proportion and measure these materials.

Another object is to provide a diaphragm in the batcher by means of which the proportions of the different materials may be varied; but said diaphragm does not vary the total volume of the batcher.

A further object is to provide a batcher havin a dia hrzwm or dia hrao'ms therein so that a plurality of materials may be proportioned and measured, and it only one material is used then the diaphragm may be employed to measure the contents.

A still further object is to provide a rapid and efiective means of varying the capacity of the batcher.

Still another object is to provide a batcher the gates of which are easily and quickly controlled.

A still further object is to provide a batcher which is simple in construction and effective in operation.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear in the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed descriptions, and the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1.is a side elevation of my batcher.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the adjusting means.

Fig. 4: is a plan View of my batcher with one of the gates removed.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation diaphragm.

Referring more particularly to the draw- 1ngs:

My batcher. 1 comprises an upper section 2 of the adjustable preferably rectangular in form. This section is rigidly secured to the bottom of the bunkers 3. A lower section A telescopes over the upper section 2 and is adapted to be raised and lowered to vary the capacity of the batcher as will be further described. A pair of gates 5, 6 are hinged at 7 and 8 respectively, to the lower edge of the bottom section A and are adapted to swing downwardly when dumping and to swing in to a closed position when the batcher is being filled. These gates are controlled by suitable means such as the sling 9 which is operated from a suitable lever or the like located close to the ground.

The lower section 4 is supported by four chains 10, said chains being secured in their lower ends to an eye bolt 11, said bolt extending th ough an angle iron 12 or the like secured to the lower section, and-a nut 13 screws on to the bolt and bears against the angle iron, thereby securing the lower end of the chain 10 in position. It will be evident that fine adjustment of the lower section at relative to the upper section 2 may be obtained by screwing the nut 18 up or down on the eye bolt 11, thereby raising or lowering the section 4.

F or rapid adjustment, plates 14: are provided on the upper section 2 which plates are provided with a slot 15 therein, through which the chain 10 passes and which is caught in the lower restricted portion of the slot; thus by raising or lowering the chains 10 an adjustment of the'section 4 is accomplished. The chains 10 being all of identi cal construction, each link will be the same in length and therefore an accurate calibration may be made by stating the number of links be raised or lowered to give the rc quired capacity of the batcher.

To charge the batcher I provide one or more sliding gates 16, which gates are positioned on the top of the upper section 2 and immediately under the bunkers 3. The bunker is provided with outlet openings 17 and the gates 16 are provided with ports 18 which are adapted to register with said openings, thereby permitting the batcher to be filled. In order that the gates 16 may be easily moved, I provide a line of rollers 19, 19 on either side of the gates. These rollers rest on angles 20 extending the length of the section 2 and which are secured thereto. Angles 21 are provided on the bottom of the gates, 16 to hold the rollers in position: These lines of rollers are somewhat shorter than the len th of the batcher since asthe.

gates 16 are moved outwardly the rollers will also travel "forwardly but the rollers will quiring very little, if

any, lubrication, and materially increasing the-usefulllfe thereof. It will be seen that as the gates 16 are moved outwardly the ports 18 will-be brought into registry with the outlets 17 thereby permitting the material fromthe bunkers to flow into the batcher and fill thesame:

it is obvious that I may employ one or more to control thematerial fiow'into the batcher, and that the batcher may be of such: size as is desired for the=partioular material handled. I have here-showna batcher adapted to handle only two definite :kinds or sizes of material.

-As here shown I provide a singleadjust able diaphragm 22- extending across; my batcher, the object' of which is to-vary'the proportions of the two-:materials in the batcher. When materials are fed 'intoa batcher by gravitythe upper portion there of will be trusto-conical lin: shapes-1 Therefore, it is essential when-varying the proportions of the two chambers wi-thinthe batcher' that the separating wall; shall= not vary =rela-a tive to this co1ncal. section'.-. Otherwise -thei total capacity of the batcher wouldibevaried. In my batcher the diaphragm -223is-hinged at 23 in the center and theiupper section of said diaphragm remains substantiallyvertical at all. times whilethe lower section is swung to either slde to get-the requlred proportions of thevarious materials;

The upper .partot the diaphragm 22 com-- prises a pair of plates 24', 25 which arcadjustable relative to each=other, said adjust? ment being provided for by a plurality of alined holes 26 in the two plates, andlthe two plates are held together :by boltszextending. through said holes The lowerpart of the diaphragm comprises a pair-o1 plates-27:, 28 which are also adjustable relative to each other by means of holes 29 inthe Silil'lCmlllttIlnor as previously described.

A plurality of holes--30 are provided adj acentthe lower edge of theseetion 4: and a rod passes between opposite of said' holes, and through the bottom loops 31 of the diaphragm, thus holding said diaphragm in anygiven position. It will be seen that the diaphragm may be moved to either side of a central vertical line through the batcher by merely 1 extending or shortening the plates as desired; thus giving. the required proportions of thetwo or more materials inthe batcher. The upper end ofthe diaphragm 22is secured adjacent the-top-of the section 2 and at the center thereof by means of a rod 31 or the like.

It is evident from the foregoing description that I may construct a batcher into whichthree, four or more different materials may be entered, and by means of adjustable diaphragms the, various materials may be proportioned as desired. While I have shown and described a batcher having two compartments, 1 do not wish to limit myself to this exact cons ruction as I may employ more or less than two. And it is to be under- 7 stood that I may vary the construction within thescope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A batcher comprising a pair of telescoping sections, means to adjust said sections relative tocach other, intake means for said batcher, outlet means for said batcher, means 7 sitions in the batcher, gates on the-top of said batcherpand gates on thebottom of said batcher.

3. A batcher comprising an upper section, a lower section telescoping over the upper section,.means to'adjustthe lower section relative to the upper section, inlet means at the. top of the batcher, outlet gates at thebottomtot the batcher dividing. said batcher into compartments, a diaphragm in: the: ba cher, said diaphragm comprising a phi-- rality of plates, means to adjust said plates relative to each other, a hinge at the-center: of said diaphragm, and means to.:' adjiist-. ably secure the lower end of said diaphragm inthe batcher, whereby the size of the com+ partments in the batcher are varied.v

1. A batcher comprising anupper section,

a lowersectiontelescoping over the upper sect-ion, means to adjust the lower section relative to the upper section, inlet means at the top of the batcher, said inlet means comprising gates each having an inlet port'therein, and a line-oirollers mounted in said batcher upon which the gates rest, said line of rollersbeing "of lesser length than the length of the batcher, outlet gates at the bottom of the batcher, a diaphragm in the batcher dividing said batcher into compartments, said diaphragm.comprising a plus rality of plates,=means to adjust said plates relative to each other, ahinge at the center of said diaphragm, and means to adjustably secure the lowerend 01 said diaphragm, in the-batcher, whereby the sizeof the compartments in the batcher are varied.

5.v A batcher comprising anupper "section,

a lower telescoping section, intake means at the top of the batcher, gates on the bottom of the batcher, chains secured to said bottom section, plates secured to the upper section having notches formed therein into which notches the links of the chain are adapted to rest thereby securing the lower section in position, eye bolts secured to the bottom of said chains, said bolts being threaded through the lower section whereby fine adjustment of the batcher may be made,

a diaphragm in said batcher comprising a plurality of plates, said diaphragm dividing the batcher into compartments, means adjustably securing adjacent plates together, and means adjustably securing the lower end of the diaphragm to the batcher, whereby the size of the compartments in the batcher are varied.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PAUL C. GRAHAM. 

